Bung-closure for barrels.



G. STIEFEL. BUNG oLosURB PoR BARRBLS.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT.`21, 1910.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

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GEORGE STIEFEL, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BUNGr-CLOSUR-E FOR BARRELS.

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To all whom fit may concern.

Be it known that I, Grenen STIEFEL, a subject ot the Emperor of Germany, and residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful improvement in Bring-Closures for Barrels, of which the following is a complete specication.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a bung closure for barrels which is adapted to be automatically closed before the pipe is withdrawn from the closure; to provide an improved bung closure for barrels which is especially adapted for use in beer barrels to prevent the escape of carbonic acid gas when the beer pipe is removed; to provide a bung closure in which the pipe aperture is adapted to be automatically closed by the removal of the gas casing; and to provide a cheap, simple vand easily operated device which is capable of being quickly connected in or disconnected from the barrel.

A specific construction embodied in said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodied in this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, showing parts in elevation. Fig. 3-is a section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and showing in dotted lines the position of the bottom plate when t-he pipe aperture is closed. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the revoluble bottom plate.

nthe construction shown, the bung casing 1 is externally screw threaded to permit its being threaded into the bung hole of a barrel or cask. The casing 1 is open at its top and is provided with a. circular partition 2 which divides it into a pipe chamber 3 and a key chamber 4. The bottom of the chamber 3 is provided with a pipe aperture 5, and a seat 6 extends across the chamber about midway between its top and bottom, which seat is provided with an aperture in axial alinement with the aperture 5. At the top of said chamber 3 is a short inclined flange 7.

A gas casin g 8 extends into the upper portion of the chamber 3 and is provided with a reduced lower portion 9 which extends through the seat 6. A packing ring 10 closes the joint between the gas casing and the seat 6. rThe gas casing is provided on one side with a lug 11 which is adapted to engage beneath the ange 7 and when the gas Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 21, 1910.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911.

Serial No. 582,973.

casing is turned in one direction to force the casing down onto the packing 10. 1n the upper portion of the casing 8 is a rib 12 attording a packing seat, and the beer pipe 13 extends downwardly through the casing 8 and the chamber 3 into the barrel. packing 14 is placed on the seat 12 about the pipev and the follower 1.3 is inserted between the casing and the pipe, and a nut 16 is secured on the end of the casing and is adapted to torce the follower against the packing and close the joint about the pipe.

Extending from one side ot the gas casing 8 is a tubular arm 17 in which is a pipe connection 18 for a gas pipe, not shown, which may lead from any suitablesource oi' gas supply. The pipe 13 is of less diameter than the internal diameter' of the reduced portion 9 of the casing S and is of less diameter than the aperture 5, so that when the gas enters the casing 8 from the arm 17 it can pass downwardly at the sides of the pipe into the barrel.

A rotative bottom plate 19 is axially journaled on the bottom of the bung casing 1 by means of a stud bolt 2O which has threaded engagement in the bottom of the bung casing. Carried on said bolt beneath the plate are spring washers 21, and nuts 22 act to create sufficient tension on the washers to cause the plate to bind tightly against the bottom of the casing 1. The plate 19 is provided vvith an aperture 23 which is adapted to register with the pipe aperture 5 when the plate is in one position so that the pipe may extend through the plate into the barrel. Diametrically opposite from the aperture 23 is a stud 25 which projects upwardly through a slot 24 in the bottom of the chamber et. Ears 26 are provided on the under side of the arm 17 and a key 27 is pivoted between said ears to swing toward and from the casing 8 and has a key seat in its lower end adapted to lit loosely over the stud 25.

The operation of the construction shown is as follows: The bung casing 1 is secured in the bung hole of the barrel and is designed to permanently remain therein. /Vhen the beer pipe and gas casing are disconnected, the bottom plate 19 is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 with the aperture 23 out of register with the aperture 5, and the stud 25 in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. When it is desired to place the pipe in the barrel, the pipe is drawn up- Wardly in the gas casing 8 so that its loWer end projects slightly through the lo\ver end of the casing 8 and into the lower portion of the chamber 3 when the casing 8 is inserted into the upper end of said chamber. The key 27 then fits loosely over the stud 25, and by turning the casing 8 in a direction to move the stud 25 to the opposite end of the slot 251-, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the aperture Q3 is brought into register With the pipe aperture 5, and the lug 11 is forced beneath the flange 7 thereby locking the gas casing in place. The pipe 13 is then forced downwardly through the apertures 5 and` 23 to the lower portion of the barrel, and the nut 16 is tightened to close the joint at the upper end of the gas casing about the pipe. When it is desired to disconnect the pipe from the barrel, its lower end is Withdrawn into the chamber 3 and the casing 8 is given a partial revolution, thereby revolving the plate 19 and closing the aperture 5 to prevent the escape of gas or other contents from the barrel.

l/Vhile I have shown and described but one specific embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be varied or omitted Without departing from the scope of the claims.

When the casing 8 is rotated the key 27 travels with the arm 17 and causes the plate 19 to rotate, but the pivotal connection of the key With said arm permits the key to tilt to compensate for the eccentricity of the paths of the stud 25 and the ears 26.

I claim:

1. A bung closure for barrels comprising a bung casing adapted to be secured in the bung hole of a barrel and having a pipe aperture in the bottom thereof, a bottom plate pivoted on the bottom of said casing and provided with a pipe aperture adapted to register With the aperture in the bung casing, a gas casing adapted to be secured in said bung casing, and means pivotally connected with the gas casing and loosely connected with t-he plate and adapted to rotate the bottom plate and close the pipe aperture When the gas casing is being removed.

2. A bung closure for barrels, comprising a bung casing having a pipe aperture in the bottom thereof, a bottom plate rotatively mounted on the bottom of said casing and having an aperture adapted to register with the pipe aperture, a gas casing rotatively mounted in said bung casing, means adapted to lock the gas casing in the bung casing, and a key yieldingly connected with the gas casing and bottom plate and adapted when operated by the rotation of the gas casing to rotate the bottom plate and open and close the pipe aperture.

3. A bung closure for barrels comprising a bung casing, means dividing the casing into a pipe chamber and a key chamber, there being a pipe aperture in the pipe chamber and a slot in the key chamber, a gas casing rotatively mounted in the pipe chamber, a bottom plate rotatively mounted on the bottom of the bung casing and having an aperture adapted to register With the pipe aperture, a stud on said plate projecting through said slot, and means carried on the gas chamber and adapted to engage said stud and revolve the plate to open and close the pipe aperture.

4. A bung closure for barrels comprising a bung casing, a pipe chamber and a key chamber in said casing, there being a pipe aperture in the pipe chamber and a slot in the key chamber, a bottom plate rotatively mounted o n the bottom of the bung casing, and adapted to control the pipe aperture, a stud on the plate projecting through said slot, a gas casing rotatively mounted in the pipe chamber, means for locking the gas casing in place, and a key carried on said gas casing and adapted to engage said stud and rotate the plate When the gas casing is rotated.

5. A bung closure for barrels, comprising a bung casing having a pipe chamber and a key chamber' therein, there being a pipe aperture in said pipe chamber and a slot in said key chamber, a bottom plate rotatively mounted on the bottom of the casing and having an aperture therein adapted to register With the pipe aperture, means adapted to yieldingly force said plate against the bottom of the casing, a stud on said plate projecting through said slot, a gas casing rotatively mounted in the pipe chamber, means adapted to lock the gas easing in place, a tubular arm extending laterally from said gas casing, and a key carried on said arm and adapted to engage the stud and rotate the plate when the gas casing is rotated and open and close the pipe aperture.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

GEORGE STIEFEL.

Witnesses JosErI-I SGHLENKER, CARL HAERTING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

